‘Over 18,500 students in Bahrain's 133 kindergartens’

Manama: There are 133 kindergartens in Bahrain that are embracing over 18,500 children, said Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi yesterday, adding that these numbers are expected to increase in 2016.

The Minister’s statements came during the Council of Representatives’ weekly meeting yesterday, while replying to parliamentary queries about the Ministry’s strategies and programmes to improve kindergartens in the Kingdom.

During the discussion, the Minister emphasised that “there is no compromise with the quality of education in Bahrain, including kindergartens.”

Dr Al Nuaimi disclosed that 194 inspection visits were made to kindergartens last year to ensure the quality of education at the facilities. “Some institutions were visited without prior notice more than once a year. We detected 11 violations in 2015 and they were referred to the Public Prosecution. These institutions didn’t comply with the academic and safety norms for kindergartens, so we requested the Public Prosecution to shut them down,” he added.

In his discussion with Dr Al Nuaimi, the queries’ presenter MP Ali Bufarsan claimed that the Minister’s answers indicated that “Bahrain is adapting foreign countries’ curricula in its kindergartens.”

Bufarsan called for more promotion of Islamic and Quranic teachings in the curricula, especially in the fundamental stages. “There is shortage of moral and Islamic subjects in kindergartens’ curricula,” the MP commented.

However, the Minister asserted that the curricula are secured. “We don’t allow any fissures that may affect our Arabic and Islamic identities.”

“It’s true that we introduce foreign subjects. We are seeking to benefit from other countries’ curricula to improve investment in this field. Many investors look forward to launching kindergartens in the Kingdom. Many of these facilities provide foreign education,” he added.